Ministry of Science & Technology
OEU a Viable Alternative to Present Crisis of Oxygen
Centre Sanctions under PM CARES Fund to Procure Portable Oxygen Concentrators Made by Domestic Manufacturers utilising CSIR-CMERI Technology
Kolkata, May 4, 2021
The Director, CSIR-CMERI Durgapur, Prof  Harish Hirani is of the opinion that our country is producing sufficient amounts of oxygen which can fulfil the demands of the patients. However, there are some bottlenecks in the logistics and supply chain management which needs to be addressed. Oxygen Enrichment Unit or OEU of CSIR-CMERI would be an alternative to the present crisis of oxygen cylinders which also saves the transportation and refuelling cost in comparison to oxygen cylinders. Prof.  Hirani added that the purpose of conducting webinars on the issue helps in spreading the technical awareness and helping all concerned to fight the pandemic unitedly. He was speaking in a webinar on the Merits of OEU on Monday organised jointly by CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur and MSME-DI, Varanasi on Monday  evening. Shri Umesh Singh, Jt. Commissioner of Industries, Varanasi Zone addressed the session as the Chief Guest. Shri L.B.S. Yadav, Jt. Director, Br. MSME-DI, Varanasi, Shri R. K. Chaudhary, Asstt. Director, Br. MSME-DI along with Shri Rajesh Bhatia, President, IIA, Varanasi, Shri Piyush Agrawal, Vice President, ASSOCHAM, UP and Shri D.S. Mishra from Ramnagar Industries also participated in the webinar.
Shri Umesh Singh, Jt. Commissioner of Industries, Varanasi Zone appreciated Prof.  Hirani for helping MSMEs and entrepreneurs through such webinars and told it is the need of the hour. He added that the present Oxygen crisis is unprecedented and with the help of CSIR-CMERI Durgapur developed technology MSMEs may come forward to ease the gap in the demand and supply of oxygen at the earliest possible. He also informed that within a very short span of time oxygen plants have been installed in surrounding Varanasi and some more are planned to be installed.
The CSIR-CMERI Director added that though the Oxygen Concentrators are available in the market since long but the indigenous technology developed by the Institute has several additional features which can be utilized at home, small and mohalla clinics and high altitude and remote rural areas. The unit may also be integrated with Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure  and can be installed as a Mini ICUs at smaller hospitals. Even in a Post-COVID scenario, OEUs may be beneficial for ailing aged persons, immature babies as well as Therapeutic Usage of oxygen. The technology can also be customised as per the requirements of the situation. CSIR-CMERI commits to provide all sorts of assistance to the MSME partners in terms of technical training and raw materials sourcing. A virtual meeting is to be arranged post technology transfer for maintenance and troubleshooting. The Centre has sanctioned to procure one lakh portable Oxygen Concentrators under the PM CARES Fund to be manufactured by the domestic manufacturers using the CSIR indigenous technology. This may give an impetus to the MSMEs as well as help import substitution in the field.
Shri L.B.S. Yadav, Jt. Director, MSME-DI acknowledged the significant role played by CSIR-CMERI Durgapur in its efforts to bridge the oxygen’s demand and supply gap in the country and made a call to the MSMEs for taking the advantage of the Institute’s technology for the benefit of maximum number of people in the country. Shri Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary, Asstt. Director coordinated the webinar and presented the Vote of Thanks.